query

[ kweer-ee ]

noun

, plural que·ries.

1. a question; an inquiry.
2. mental reservation; doubt.
3. Printing. a question mark (?), especially as added on a manuscript, proof sheet, or the like, indicating doubt as to some point in the text.
4. an inquiry from a writer to an editor of a magazine, newspaper, etc., regarding the acceptability of or interest in an idea for an article, news story, or the like: usually presented in the form of a letter that outlines or describes the projected piece.

verb (used with object)

, que·ried, que·ry·ing.

1. to ask or inquire about:

   No one queried his presence.

2. to question as doubtful or obscure:

   to query a statement.

3. Printing. to mark (a manuscript, proof sheet, etc.) with a query.
4. to ask questions of.

query

/ ˈkwɪərɪ /

noun

1. a question, esp one expressing doubt, uncertainty, or an objection
2. a less common name for question mark

verb

1. to express uncertainty, doubt, or an objection concerning (something)
2. to express as a query

   "What's up now?" she queried

3. to put a question to (a person); ask

Other Words From

• query·ing·ly adverb
• outquery verb (used with object) outqueried outquerying
• un·queried adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of query¹

First recorded in 1625–35; alteration (with the influence of -y ³ ) of earlier quere, from Latin quaere quaere

Word History and Origins

Origin of query¹

C17: from earlier quere, from Latin quaere ask!, from quaerere to seek, inquire

Example Sentences

That’s because the amount of content fed to AI bots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT to “train” them is so immense that it’s almost impossible to pinpoint any particular content that has been infringed when the bot spits out an answer to a user’s query.

From Los Angeles Times

The answer to a query about the Biden’s administration’s handling of the Israel-Gaza war was different from the one that aired on the program.

From Los Angeles Times

She said the taskforce should look into the reasons for insurance hikes and why renewal quotes can be reduced when people query them.

From BBC

A query on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, on average, requires nearly 10 times as much electricity to process as a Google search, according to Goldman Sachs.

From Los Angeles Times

Ohanian told me in June that he hadn’t realized that the figures weren’t seasonally adjusted, and that he would query the Journal about the issue in anticipation of writing about it again.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inquiry
• objection
• question
• questioning
• reservation
• skepticism